KEY:stricken= old language to be removed underscored = new language to be added
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S.R. No. 90, as introduced: 94th Legislative Session (2025-2026) Posted on May 16, 2026
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2recognizing the growth and success of Cypher Side Dance School.
1.3WHEREAS, in 2017, Lue Thao founded Cypher Side Dance School with the support of
1.4Mary Anne and Sergio Quiroz inside the Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center. Cypher Side started
1.5with just 20 students, and one of its earliest highlights was when student Amelia Khang became
1.6the first Hmong youth to join the Minnesota Timberwolves' performance team, the Pups; and
1.7WHEREAS, in 2018, Lue Thao performed in the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. In 2019,
1.8Cypher Side students were invited to perform for Governor Walz's inauguration, and student
1.9Harmony Lee became the second Hmong youth to join the Timberwolves' Pups team; and
1.10WHEREAS, in 2021, Cypher Side opened its first studio in Gem Lake and performed at
1.11Olympic champion Sunisa Lee's victory parade celebrating her historic gold-medal win. By 2022,
1.12it had grown to 75 students and 13 weekly classes. After an electrical fire, community support
1.13raised over $10,000 in a day and classes continued in local churches and recreation centers; and
1.14WHEREAS, in 2022, Cypher Side relocated to North St. Paul, expanding from one to three
1.15studios. That year, youth dancer Atari Ernst joined the First Avenue Breakers, the same team as
1.16Lue Thao of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2025, longtime student Sachi Patel, who has been
1.17with the studio since its founding in 2017, became the second youth member to join, furthering
1.18Cypher Side's mission to empower young dancers; and
1.19WHEREAS, in 2024, Cypher Side added a fourth studio, received $275,000 in legislative
1.20funding, and Lue Thao became Macalester College's first visiting street-dance instructor. That same
1.21year, Cypher Side performed at the Minnesota Timberwolves' AAPI Night halftime show; and
1.22WHEREAS, in 2025, Lue Thao received the Hmong Chamber of Commerce's Business
1.23Impact Award and, on April 18, he was honored with the Hmong National Development's
1.24Community Catalyst Award. 2025 also marked his tenth season performing with the Minnesota
1.25Timberwolves. On October 25, 2025, Cypher Side will host the first-ever Hmong event at the Mall
1.26of America, a historic milestone for the community; and
1.27WHEREAS, Cypher Side Dance School has grown to more than 300 students and more than
1.2840 weekly classes, continuing its mission to inspire, empower, and uplift youth through dance; and
1.29NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.30congratulates Lue Thao and Cypher Side Dance School and wishes them continued success.
1.31BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.32enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.33Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Cypher Side Dance
1.34School.
1.2recognizing the growth and success of Cypher Side Dance School.
1.3WHEREAS, in 2017, Lue Thao founded Cypher Side Dance School with the support of
1.4Mary Anne and Sergio Quiroz inside the Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center. Cypher Side started
1.5with just 20 students, and one of its earliest highlights was when student Amelia Khang became
1.6the first Hmong youth to join the Minnesota Timberwolves' performance team, the Pups; and
1.7WHEREAS, in 2018, Lue Thao performed in the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show. In 2019,
1.8Cypher Side students were invited to perform for Governor Walz's inauguration, and student
1.9Harmony Lee became the second Hmong youth to join the Timberwolves' Pups team; and
1.10WHEREAS, in 2021, Cypher Side opened its first studio in Gem Lake and performed at
1.11Olympic champion Sunisa Lee's victory parade celebrating her historic gold-medal win. By 2022,
1.12it had grown to 75 students and 13 weekly classes. After an electrical fire, community support
1.13raised over $10,000 in a day and classes continued in local churches and recreation centers; and
1.14WHEREAS, in 2022, Cypher Side relocated to North St. Paul, expanding from one to three
1.15studios. That year, youth dancer Atari Ernst joined the First Avenue Breakers, the same team as
1.16Lue Thao of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2025, longtime student Sachi Patel, who has been
1.17with the studio since its founding in 2017, became the second youth member to join, furthering
1.18Cypher Side's mission to empower young dancers; and
1.19WHEREAS, in 2024, Cypher Side added a fourth studio, received $275,000 in legislative
1.20funding, and Lue Thao became Macalester College's first visiting street-dance instructor. That same
1.21year, Cypher Side performed at the Minnesota Timberwolves' AAPI Night halftime show; and
1.22WHEREAS, in 2025, Lue Thao received the Hmong Chamber of Commerce's Business
1.23Impact Award and, on April 18, he was honored with the Hmong National Development's
1.24Community Catalyst Award. 2025 also marked his tenth season performing with the Minnesota
1.25Timberwolves. On October 25, 2025, Cypher Side will host the first-ever Hmong event at the Mall
1.26of America, a historic milestone for the community; and
1.27WHEREAS, Cypher Side Dance School has grown to more than 300 students and more than
1.2840 weekly classes, continuing its mission to inspire, empower, and uplift youth through dance; and
1.29NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.30congratulates Lue Thao and Cypher Side Dance School and wishes them continued success.
1.31BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.32enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.33Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Cypher Side Dance
1.34School.
| Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate | Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| Foung HawjState Senator, District 67 | Susan PhaState Senator, District 38 |
| Tou XiongState Senator, District 44 |